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<h1>Epydoc Fields</h1>

<p> Fields are used to describe specific properties of a documented
object.  For example, fields can be used to define the parameters and
return value of a function; the instance variables of a class; and the
author of a module.  Each field consists of a <i>tag</i>, an optional
<i>argument</i>, and a <i>body</i>. </p>

<ul>
  <li> The <i>tag</i> is a case-insensitive word that indicates what
  kind of documentaiton is given by the field. </li>
  <li> The optional <i>argument</i> specifies what object, parameter,
  or group is documented by the field. </li>
  <li> The <i>body</i> contains the main contents of the field. </li>
  </ul>

<h2> 1. Field Markup </h2>

<p> Each docstring markup langauge marks fields differently.  The
following table shows the basic fields syntax for each markup
language.  For more information, see the definition of field syntax
for each markup language. </p>

<center>
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
  <tr>
    <th width="33%">Epytext</th>
    <th width="33%">reStructuredText</th>
    <th width="33%">Javadoc</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>
      <code>@<i>tag</i>: <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
      <code>@<i>tag</i> <i>arg</i>: <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
    </td>
    <td>
      <code>:<i>tag</i>: <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
      <code>:<i>tag</i> <i>arg</i>: <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
    </td>
    <td>
      <code>@<i>tag</i> <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
      <code>@<i>tag</i> <i>arg</i> <i>body</i></code>...<br/>
    </td>
  </tr>
<tr>
<td align="center"><a
href="epytext.html#fieldlist">Definition of<br/>epytext fields</a></td>
<td align="center"><a
href="http://docutils.sourceforge.net/spec/rst/reStructuredText.html#field-lists">Definition of<br/>reStructuredText fields</a></td>
<td align="center"><a
href="http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/solaris/javadoc.html#javadoctags">Definition of<br/>Javadoc fields</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
</center>


<a name="fields"></a>
<h2> 2. Supported Fields</h2>

<p> The following table lists the fields that epydoc currently
recognizes.  Field tags are written using epytext markup; if you are
using a different markup language, then you should adjust the markup
accordingly. </p>


<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="95%">
  <!-- ========== Functions & Methods ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Functions and Methods
  <i>(function or method docstrings)</i></th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>param</b>&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the parameter <code><i>p</i></code> for a
    function or method.  It may appear in the class docstring to describe
    a costructor parameter: mostly useful for C extensions.</td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>type</b>&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The expected type for the parameter.
    <code><i>p</i></code>. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>return</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The return value for a function or method. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>rtype</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The type of the return value for a function or method. </td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>keyword</b>&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the keyword parameter <code><i>p</i></code>.
    It may appear in the class docstring to describe
    a costructor keyword parameter.</td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>raise</b>&nbsp;<i>e</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the circumstances under which a function or
    method raises exception <code><i>e</i></code>.
    It may appear in the class docstring to describe
    an exception that can be raised by the costructor.</td></tr>

  <!-- ========== Variables ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Variables
  <i>(module, class or <a href="#variable-docstring">variable</a> docstrings)</i></th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>ivar</b>&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the class instance variable
    <code><i>v</i></code>. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>cvar</b>&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the static class variable
    <code><i>v</i></code>. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>var</b>&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of the module variable
    <code><i>v</i></code>. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>type</b>&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The type of the variable
    <code><i>v</i></code>. </td></tr>

    <!-- This does exist, but leave it out to avoid confusion: -->
    <!-- 
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>type</b>&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The type of the property
    <code><i>p</i></code>. </td></tr>
    -->
  
  <!-- ========== Properties ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Properties
  <i>(property docstrings)</i></th></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>type</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The type of the property. </td></tr>
  
  <!-- ========== Grouping & Sorting ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Grouping and Sorting
  <i>(module, class, function, or method docstrings)</i></th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>group</b>&nbsp;<i>g</i>:&nbsp;<i>c<sub>1</sub
    >,...,c<sub>n</sub></i></code> </td><td>
    Organizes a set of related children of a module or class into a group.
    <code><i>g</i></code> is the name of the group; and
    <code><i>c<sub>1</sub>,...,c<sub>n</sub></i></code> are the names
    of the children in the group.  To define multiple groups, use
    multiple <code>group</code> fields.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>sort</b>:&nbsp;<i>c<sub>1</sub
    >,...,c<sub>n</sub></i></code> </td><td>
    Specifies the sort order for the children of a module or class.
    <code><i>c<sub>1</sub>,...,c<sub>n</sub></i></code> are the names
    of the children, in the order in which they should appear.  Any
    children that are not included in this list will appear after
    the children from this list, in alphabetical order.
    </td></tr>
        
  <!-- ========== Related Topics ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Related Topics</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top"> <code>@<b>see</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    A description of a related topic.  <code>see</code> fields
    typically use documentation crossreference links or external
    hyperlinks that link to the related topic. </td></tr>
    
  <!-- ========== Notes & Warnings ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Notes and Warnings</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>note</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A note about an object.  Multiple
    <code>note</code> fields may be used to list separate
    notes.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>attention</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    An important note about an object.  Multiple
    <code>attention</code> fields may be used to list separate
    notes.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>bug</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A description of a bug in an object.
    Multiple <code>bug</code> fields may be used to report separate
    bugs.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>warning</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A warning about an object.  Multiple
    <code>warning</code> fields may be used to report separate
    warnings.</td></tr>

  <!-- ========== Status ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Status</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>version</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The current version of an object. </td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>todo</b> [<i>ver</i>]:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> A planned
  change to an object.  If the optional argument <code><i>ver</i></code>
  is given, then it specifies the version for which the change will be
  made.  Multiple <code>todo</code> fields may be used if multiple
  changes are planned. </td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>deprecated</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    Indicates that an object is
    deprecated.  The body of the field describe the reason why
    the object is deprecated.</td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>since</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    The date or version when an object was
    first introduced.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>status</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    The current status of an object.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>change</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A change log entry for this object.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>permission</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td>
    The object access permission, for systems such Zope/Plone supporting
    this concept. It may be used more than once to specify multiple
    permissions.</td></tr>
    
  <!-- ========== Formal Conditions ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Formal Conditions</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>requires</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A requirement for using an object.  Multiple <code>requires</code>
    fields may be used if an object has multiple
    requirements.</td></tr>
    
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>precondition</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A condition that must be true before an object is used.  Multiple
    <code>precondition</code> fields may be used if an object has
    multiple preconditions.</td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>postcondition</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A condition that is guaranteed to be true after an object is used.
    Multiple <code>postcondition</code> fields may be used if an
    object has multiple postconditions.</td></tr>

  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>invariant</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> 
    A condition which should always be true for an object.  Multiple
    <code>invariant</code> fields may be used if an object has
    multiple invariants.</td></tr>

  <!-- ========== Bibliographic Info ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Bibliographic Information</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>author</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> The author(s) of an
    object.  Multiple <code>author</code>
    fields may be used if an object has multiple authors.</td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>organization</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> The
    organization that created or maintains an
    object. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>copyright</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> The copyright
      information for an object. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>license</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> The licensing
    information for an object. </td></tr>
  
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>contact</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> Contact information
    for the author or maintainer of a module, class, function, or
    method.  Multiple <code>contact</code> fields may be used if an
    object has multiple contacts.</td></tr>

  <!-- ========== Summarization ========== -->
  <tr><th colspan="2" align="left">Summarization</th></tr>
  <tr><td width="10%" align="left" valign="top">
  <code>@<b>summary</b>:</code>&nbsp;... </td><td> A summary
  description for an object.  This description overrides the default
  summary (which is constructed from the first sentence of the
  object's description). </td></tr>
  
</table>

<h3> 2.1. Notes on Supported Fields</h3>

<ul>

<li> <p> <code>@param</code> fields should be used to document any
explicit parameter (including the keyword parameter).
<code>@keyword</code> fields should only be used for non-explicit
keyword parameters: </p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">plant</code>(seed, *tools, **options):
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <code class="field">@param seed:</code> The seed that should be planted.
    <code class="field">@param tools:</code> Tools that should be used to plant the seed.
    <code class="field">@param options:</code> Any extra options for the planting.

    <code class="field">@keyword dig_deep:</code> Plant the seed deep under ground.
    <code class="field">@keyword soak:</code> Soak the seed before planting it.
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre></div>
</li>

<li> <p> For the <code>@group</code> and <code>@sort</code> tags,
asterisks (<code>*</code>) can be used to specify multiple children at
once.  An asterisk in a child name will match any substring: </p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<code class="keyword">class</code> <code class="function">widget</code>(size, weight, age):
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <code class="field">@group Tools:</code> zip, zap, *_tool
    <code class="field">@group Accessors:</code> get_*
    <code class="field">@sort:</code> get_*, set_*, unpack_*, cut
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre></div>
</li>

<li> <p> Since the <code>@type</code> field allows for arbitrary text,
it does not automatically create a crossreference link to the
specified type, and is not written in fixed-width font by default.  If
you want to create a crossreference link to the type, or to write the
type in a fixed-width font, then you must use inline markup: </p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">ponder</code>(person, time):
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <code class="field">@param person:</code> Who should think.
    <code class="field">@type person:</code> L{Person} or L{Animal}
    <code class="field">@param time:</code> How long they should think.
    <code class="field">@type time:</code> C{int} or C{float}
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre></div>

</li>
</ul>


<a name="locations"></a>
<h2> 3. Where to Write Fields</h2>

<p> Normally the fields are written in the docstring of the documented
objects: this allows to add fields to modules, classes, function, properties.
Where a docstring is not allowed, usually alternative options do exist.
</p>

<a name="variable-docstring"></a>
<h3> 3.1. Variable docstrings </h3>

<p> Python variables don't support docstrings. The variable can be described
in the module or class where it is defined using the tags <code>@var</code>,
<code>@ivar</code>, <code>@cvar</code>; but this only allows for a textual
description: no further metadata can be added to the variable (except for the
type, using the <code>@type</code> tag. </p>

<p> Epydoc supports <i>variable docstrings</i>:  if a variable
assignment statement is immediately followed by a bare string literal,
then that assignment is treated as a docstring for that variable.  In
classes, variable assignments at the class definition level are
considered class variables; and assignments to instance variables in
the constructor (<code>__init__</code>) are considered instance variables:<p>

<div class="screen2"><pre>
<code class="prompt">&gt;&gt;&gt;</code> <code class="keyword">class</code> A:
<code class="prompt">...</code>     x = 22
<code class="prompt">...</code>     <code class="string">"""Docstring for class variable A.x"""</code>
<code class="prompt">...</code>
<code class="prompt">...</code>     <code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">__init__</code>(self, a):
<code class="prompt">...</code>         self.y = a
<code class="prompt">...</code>         <code class="string">"""Docstring for instance variable A.y</code>
</pre></div>

<p> Variables may also be documented using <i>comment docstrings</i>.
If a variable assignment is immediately preceeded by a comment whose
lines begin with the special marker "<code><b>#:</b></code>", or is
followed on the same line by such a comment, then it is treated as a
docstring for that variable: </p>

<div class="screen2"><pre>
<code class="prompt">&gt;&gt;&gt;</code> <code class="comment">#: docstring for x</code>
<code class="prompt">...</code> x = 22
<code class="prompt">&gt;&gt;&gt;</code> x = 22 <code class="comment">#: docstring for x</code>
</pre></div>

<p> A common Python idiom is to create instance variables settings their
default value in the class instead of the constructor (hopefully if the default
is immutable...). To avoid Epydoc to interpret such variable as a class
variable, you can describe it using the tag <code>@ivar</code> in the
context of a variable docstring:</p>

<div class="screen2"><pre>
<code class="prompt">&gt;&gt;&gt;</code> <code class="keyword">class</code> B:
<code class="prompt">...</code>     y = 42
<code class="prompt">...</code>     <code class="string">"""@ivar: This is an instance variable."""</code>
</pre></div>

<p> Notice that variable docstrings are only available for documentation
when the source code is available for parsing: it is not possible to retrieve
variable docstrings from introspection informations only. </p>


<h3> 3.2. C Extensions </h3>

<p> In a C extension module, extension classes cannot have a docstring attached
to the <code>__init__</code> function; consequently it is not possible to
document parameters and exceptions raised by the class constructor. To overcome
this shortcoming, the tags <code>@param</code>, <code>@keyword</code>,
<code>@type</code>, <code>@exception</code> are allowed to appear in the class
docstring to refer to constructor parameters.
</p>


<h2>4. Field Synonyms</h2>

<p> Several fields have "synonyms," or alternate tags.  The following
table lists all field synonyms.  Field tags are written using epytext
markup; if you are using a different markup language, then you should
adjust the markup accordingly. </p>

<center>
<table class="transparent">
<tr valign="top"><td class="transparent">
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
    <tr><th width="50%">Name</th><th width="50%">Synonyms</th></tr>
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@param&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td>
      <td><code>@parameter&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;...<br/>
      <code>@arg&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;...<br/>
      <code>@argument&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@return:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@returns:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@rtype:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@returntype:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@raise&nbsp;<i>e</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td>
      <td><code>@raises&nbsp;<i>e</i>:</code>&nbsp;...<br/>
      <code>@except&nbsp;<i>e</i>:</code>&nbsp;...<br/>
      <code>@exception&nbsp;<i>e</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@keyword&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@kwarg&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... <br/>
      <code>@kwparam&nbsp;<i>p</i>:</code>&nbsp;... <br/></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@ivar&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@ivariable&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@cvar&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@cvariable&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
  </table></td>
  <td width="20" class="transparent"></td>
  <td class="transparent">
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
    <tr><th width="50%">Name</th><th width="50%">Synonyms</th></tr>
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@var&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@variable&nbsp;<i>v</i>:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
  
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@see:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@seealso:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
  
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@warning:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@warn:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@requires:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@require:</code>&nbsp;... <br/>
      <code>@requirement:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@precondition:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@precond:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@postcondition:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@postcod:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@organization:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@org:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@copyright:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@(c):</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@change:</code>&nbsp;...</b> </td><td>
      <code>@changed:</code>&nbsp;... </td></tr>
  </table>
</td></tr></table>
</center>


<a name="metadata-variable"></a>
<h3> 4.1. Metadata variables </h3>

<p> Some module variables are commonly used as module metadata. Epydoc can
use the value provided by these variables as alternate form for tags. The
following table lists the recognized variables and the tag they replace.
Customized metadata variables can be added using the method described
in <a href="newfield">Adding New Fields</a>.</p>

<center>
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
    <tr><th width="50%">Tag</th><th width="50%">Variable</th></tr>
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@deprecated</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__deprecated__</code></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@version</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__version__</code></td></tr>
    
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@date</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__date__</code></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@author</code></b><br/>
      <b><code>@authors</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__author__</code><br/>
      <code>__authors__</code></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@contact</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__contact__</code></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@copyright</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__copyright__</code></td></tr>
      
    <tr><td align="left" valign="top">
      <b><code>@license</code></b></td>
      <td><code>__license__</code></td></tr>

  </table>
</center>


<a name="newfield"></a>
<h2> 5. Adding New Fields</h2>

<p> New fields can be defined for the docstrings in a module using the
special <code>@newfield</code> tag (or its synonym,
<code>@deffield</code>).  This tag has the following syntax:</p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<b>@newfield <i>tag</i>:</b> <i>label</i> [, <i>plural</i>]
</pre></div>

<p>Where <code><i>tag</i></code> is the new tag that's being defined;
<code><i>label</i></code> is a string that will be used to mark this
field in the generated output; and <code><i>plural</i></code> is the
plural form of <code><i>label</i></code>, if different.</p>

<p>It will also be possibile to use the module variable
<code>__<i>tag</i>__</code> to set the value for the newly defined tag.</p>

<p>The following
example illustrates how the <code>@newfield</code> can be used: </p>

<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="95%">
  <tr><th width="50%">Docstring Input</th><th width="50%">Rendered Output</th>
  <tr valign="top"><td>
<pre>
"""
@newfield corpus: Corpus, Corpora
"""

<code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">example</code>():
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <code class="field">@corpus:</code> Bob's wordlist.
    <code class="field">@corpus:</code> The British National Corpus.
    <code class="string">"""</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre>
</td><td>
    <p><b>Corpora:</b>
      <ul>
        <li> Bob's wordlist. </li>
        <li> The British National Corpus. </li>
      </ul>
    </p>
</td></tr>
</table>

<p><b>Note:</b> The module-level variable
<code>__extra_epydoc_fields__</code> is deprecated; use
<code>@newfield</code> instead.</p>

<h2> 6. Markup-Specific Notes </h2>

<p> For the most part, fields are treated identically, regardless of
what markup language is used to encode them.  However, there are a few
minor differences, which are intended to accomodate existing standards
for each markup language.  In particular: </p>

<ul>
  <li> reStructuredText supports an extra group of fields, called
  <i>consolidated fields</i>, which combine the documentation for
  several objects into a single field. </li>
  <li> Javadoc uses a special syntax for the body of the
  <code>@see</code> fields. </li>
  <li> Javadoc does not support multi-word arguments. </li>
</ul>

<p> For more information about these differences, read the subsections
below. </p>

<a name="rst"></a>
<h3> 6.1. reStructuredText Fields </h3>

<p> In reStructuredText, a single field can be used to encode the
documentation for a group of related items.  For example, a single
<code>:Parameters:</code> field is often used to describe all of the
parameters for a function or method: </p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">fox_speed</code>(size, weight, age):
    <code class="string">"""
    Return the maximum speed for a fox.

    <code class="field">:Parameters:</code>
      - `size`: The size of the fox (in meters)
      - `weight`: The weight of the fox (in stones)
      - `age`: The age of the fox (in years)
    """</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre></div>

<p> Epydoc will automatically extract information about each parameter
from this list.  These <i>consolidated fields</i> may be written using
either a bulleted list or a <a
href="http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/user/rst/quickref.html#definition-lists">definition
list</a>.  If a consolidated field is written as a bulleted list, then
each list item must begin with the field's argument, marked as <a
href="http://docutils.sourceforge.net/docs/user/rst/quickref.html#inline-markup">interpreted
text</a>, and followed by a colon or dash.  If a consolidated field is
written as a definition list, then each definition item's term should
contain the field's argument, (it is not mandatory for it being marked as interpreted text).  The term
classifier, if present, is used to specify the associated type.  The
following example shows the use of a definition list to define a
consolidated field.  (Note that docutils requires a space before and
after the ":" used to mark classifiers.)
</p>

<div class="screen"><pre>
<code class="keyword">def</code> <code class="function">fox_speed</code>(size, weight, age):
    <code class="string">"""
    Return the maximum speed for a fox.

    <code class="field">:Parameters:</code>
      size
          The size of the fox (in meters)
      weight : float
          The weight of the fox (in stones)
      age : int
          The age of the fox (in years)
    """</code>
    <i>[...]</i>
</pre></div>

<p> The following consolidated
fields are currently supported by epydoc: </p>

<center>
<table class="transparent">
<tr valign="top"><td class="transparent">
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
  <tr><th>Consolidated<br />Field Tag</th>
    <th>Corresponding<br />Base Field Tag</th></tr>
  <tr><td><code>:Parameters:</code></td>
    <td><code>:param:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Exceptions:</code></td>
    <td><code>:except:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Groups:</code></td>
    <td><code>:group:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Keywords:</code></td>
    <td><code>:keyword:</code></td>
  </table></td>
  <td class="transparent" width="20"></td>
  <td class="transparent">
  <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3">
  <tr><th>Consolidated<br />Field Tag</th>
    <th>Corresponding<br />Base Field Tag</th></tr>
  <tr><td><code>:Variables:</code></td>
    <td><code>:var:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Ivariables:</code></td>
    <td><code>:ivar:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Cvariables:</code></td>
    <td><code>:cvar:</code></td>
  <tr><td><code>:Types:</code></td>
    <td><code>:type:</code></td>
</table>
</td></tr></table>
</center>


<h3> 6.2. Javadoc Fields </h3>

<p> For compatibility with Javadoc, every <code>@see</code> field is
assumed to contain a single crossreference link, unless its body
is quoted, or it starts with an HTML tag.  See <a
href="http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/tooldocs/solaris/javadoc.html#@see">the
Javadoc reference manual</a> for more information about how the
<code>@see</code> field is encoded in Javadoc. </p>

<p> Because Javadoc does not mark end of the optional argument, field
arguments must contain exactly one word.  Thus, multi-word arguments
are not available in Javadoc.  In particular, all group names must
be single words. </p>

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